Ashland thistle facts for kids

Cirsium ciliolatum is a type of thistle plant. It is commonly known as the Ashland thistle. This plant is found only in a specific area called the Klamath Mountains. It grows in just a few places in Jackson and Josephine Counties in Oregon. It also grows in nearby Humboldt and Siskiyou Counties in California. The Ashland thistle is closely related to another thistle called Cirsium undulatum. Some scientists think it might even be a special kind of that species.

What is the Ashland Thistle?

The Ashland thistle is a plant that lives for more than two years. It grows from a main root system that sends out smaller roots. These roots help the plant spread. It can grow quite tall, reaching up to about 200 centimeters (about 6.5 feet).

Plant Features

The plant often looks like it's covered in spiderwebs because of fine, hair-like fibers. Its leaves are a gray-green color and feel woolly. The edges of the leaves can be smooth or have deep cuts. They might also be spiny and have that "cobwebby" look. The longest leaves can be up to 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) long.

Flowers and Seeds

The Ashland thistle produces groups of flower heads. Each flower head is about 2 centimeters (0.8 inches) long and up to 5 centimeters (2 inches) wide. The outside of the flower head has sticky, spiny leaf-like parts called phyllaries. Inside, the head is full of small flowers. These flowers can be white or a light lavender color. After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a type of seed called an achene. It has a thick body that is a few millimeters long. Attached to the achene is a feathery structure called a pappus. This pappus is about 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) long and helps the seed float away in the wind.